Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, , 3:43:50 to 3:51:52
Discussion on strengthening the curriculum regarding anti-semitism, Jewish history, and the inclusion of diverse cultural contributions.
Topics: Education, Antisemitism, Social cohesion
Speakers: Mr. Stephen Gniel, Senator Paul Scarr, Senator Matt O'Sullivan, Unknown Speaker, Senator Marielle Smith
let's switch gears to anti-semitism curriculum will the curriculum change deal with uh anti-semitism specifically address sorry that deal with anti-semitism specifically address the fact that anti-ionist and anti-Israel conduct is the modern manifestation of anti-semitism.
>> So the those changes as you know are yet to go before ministers. Um certainly in the terms of reference it was very clear that we were to um address anti-semitism specifically and strongly around an understanding what it is as you say with some of those
>> evolved. Yeah, it's developed.
>> Yeah, that's right. And some of that is around the history of that as well. I think um you know anti-semitism has a long long history and uh and as you mentioned it's also uh tends to morph and change as well. Um and so obviously social media and those uh things are playing uh playing a part in in how that's being uh represented in these modern times. But yeah, so all of those things are part of what we've looked at in developing the um the strengthened approach within the Australian curriculum.
>> Does it acknowledge that Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people?
>> So again, I mean the the content um would not normally go into that level of detail um about
>> so then up to each educator.
>> Uh no no that so the resources to support that learning um would be provided through other means. So we have the um education hub for example that um many of the Jewish uh museums, Holocaust museums have um developed resources for as well. So uh the content um tends to be at a at that higher level uh but specific and so the specificity already exists in the Australian curriculum about um racism and hate uh as well as uh the Holocaust. Um what we are asked to do um really is within the terms of reference are three things is an understanding and appreciation of Jewish histories and cultures. Um the uh anti-semitism rejection and understanding and also how that relates to um the values that we hold dear in this country.
>> Australian students learn about uh ancient Greece and Rome and which had contributed much to Western civilization. will they learn about Jewish thought history and civilization in similar units and in the same vein?
>> So only as much as the terms of reference asked us to um consider an understanding of Jewish histories and cultures but that again will be something that ministers will um come to an agreement with hopefully on Monday.
Does the does the change do the changes adopt the um international human rights the IH definition of anti-semitism?
>> Uh they they they don't specifically call out a definition itself but of course the definition for anti-semitism across Australia is clearly the IHR definition from governments.
>> Yes. But there are some some have their own, you know, we haven't quite landed on a uniform position on this.
>> Yeah. Look, I think um we obviously the special envoy has been on the task force with us and I've had a number of conversations with her >> around uh all of this work um you know importantly. though um the in terms of a of a definition then that is the place that uh within those resources too people will be turning to around an understanding of what anti-semitism is. Um as I say those those um those specific higher level content descriptors are very clear about um the expectation around anti-semitism um in all its forms. Um and I guess uh Senator once we're able to publish those um recommended changes um and update the curriculum then you know those are the things that we can then be strengthening
>> I ask just a followup question? >> To what extent does it have an Australian context and and I want to give you just some if you go back through Australian his Australia's history, there's been some extraordinarily prominent uh Australians of of Jewish faith who have contributed to the development of the country. So Isaac Isaacs, Mach etc. and in the course of being in this place um especially in recent times I've become aware of the history of say um the response of the Jewish community and broader community in Australia in the leadup to World War II uh calling out things like crystal kn etc. So um you got that that history. To what extent will that be is that envisaged to be
one of the things we were asked to do, Senator, around that Jewish history, culture, and understanding. So, one of the things that we heard as we spoke to the Jewish community was that they were um very uh clear that they didn't want to be defined by um only Holocaust and anti-semitism in terms of negative um >> uh elements of of that history for them. Uh and so one of the things that they were looking for and that we'll responded to again which will go to ministers uh is not treating those things in isolation. um you know talking to uh students and ensuring that students hear about um Jewish culture pre World War II and the Holocaust in particular and also after and that's I think something from uh from my learning personally too Senator um in doing this work is that uh as you say there's been a significant um contribution to Australian um communities our um research all kinds of areas uh from from Jewish people who have come here. Uh and so those are other elements that we're putting into or we're recommending go into that curriculum.
>> In relation to Islamophobia, >> uh there's the history of the Afghan chemile who were absolutely fundamental to opening up central Australia. Uh and in fact I think the first mosque in Australia was was built in um in South Australia by um ancestors of the um well the Afghan Kennedy when they first came >> um to assist in in in relation to those activities in central Australia. So and and so there's been generations and generations of their descendants in in in Australia. To what extent will that be is that envisaged to be part of the
curriculum? Yeah, I think well that's the next um review that we're doing at the moment. So we haven't gone into that detail. I can tell you I nearly hit a rogue camel on a trip across Australia once as a um so they are still out there and that was that's still
>> not in Queensland.
>> No, it was actually South Australia. Um
>> in South Australia.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Down in the near the great Australian bite many years ago. Anyway, I digress. Uh yeah, look, those are those history um elements uh I think um we'll certainly be looking at in the next part of the review. We've looked at that as as you as you know in part of the Holocaust that was a very clear um signal that we needed to look at and then the next review um that will give us the opportunity to look at at other history as well.
>> Thank you.
>> Senator M has a couple of questions. You happy for me to go to her now? >> Great. Okay. Senator.